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Immigration through the Lens of a Family Reunited

Representing a detained immigrant during removal proceedings has many benefits—none better than seeing a family reunited after being torn apart by detention. Recently, a team of pro bono attorneys at Paul Hastings secured a stellar victory for a client that allowed him to return to his family, including three young US citizen daughters.

The team of Danielle Susanj, Igor Timofeyev, Brian Wilmot, and Ian Herbert took on the case of Manuel,* a wonderful family man from Mexico who has lived in the U.S. for a decade. At the time the team met him, Manuel had already been detained for over a year in immigration detention. Due to administrative and clerical missteps, the courts were unable to bring Manuel’s removal proceedings to a close. He was stuck in detention limbo, living with the ever-present threat of deportation and exile from his family.

The Paul Hastings team dug into Manuel’s case and advocated for him at every level of the courts and agencies that would listen. They fought his case at the Board of Immigration Appeals, filed a difficult and novel habeas corpus petition in federal court, and urged for discretion by ICE’s counsel’s office. The case was a long and uphill battle, but Danielle, Igor, Brian, and Ian were not deterred. Last month, Manuel was released from ICE detention and granted discretionary relief by the government. He and his family are now back together, forever grateful to their pro bono champions.